Update Your Workout Wear!

Update Your Workout Wear!

By Shana Aborn

Update your workout wear! Heading for the gym? Great! Doing it in a baggy T-shirt and two-year-old shoes? Not so much. Wearing the right exercise gear isn’t just a matter of looking fashionable; it helps you work out comfortably and safely. Here’s how to tell when you need to update your workout wear, and what to look for when you do:

Sports bra
If it’s been a year or more since you bought the bra you’re wearing, you’ve had it too long. Ditto if the elastic is loose, if you’ve gained or lost weight or if you feel any pain in your shoulders or chest when you work out. When you try on a new sports bra, check the fit: The band should lie flat against your ribcage covering your breasts completely and the straps shouldn’t dig into your shoulders.

The type of bra you buy depends on what kinds of exercise you do. For running or aerobics, a compression bra that minimizes movement is best; for walking or biking, look for a soft pullover bra. Go for a moisture-wicking polyester fabric rather than a cotton variety, which holds in sweat. And when you try on a bra, run in place or do some jumping jacks to make sure it’s supportive enough.